Here's my opinion on why Lebron is better. Forget Jordan. We'll save that for some other time. Know that I'm a fan of Lebron. Not by who he is, what he does off the court, but by the way he plays. By the way he sets records for ESPN. By his love for the game. By the way he takes less money to go after championships. Less money. The whole reason we are in this NBA lockout, money issues. But anyways, as much as you may think I'm biased towards Lebron, I'm really not. I state facts and what no body thinks about. Most people who get mad, and tell me otherwise to what I say, are Laker fans. Here we go.
Some people's reason for hating Lebron is because of his off-court problems. He had "The Decision", the show he announced he was going to Miami. The way he did it, he'd take it back. Why he did it, that's another story. They had the pre-season party. "Not one, not two...." He'd take it back as well. He'll mature. He's also said some questionable things to the media, and fans. But really? If you were getting criticized by fans over and over again throughout the year, you would do the same. So you're thinking, Kobe wins this category. Wrong. Kobe has ran his mouth plenty of times. He was actually fined this year for a gay slur towards a ref. Yeah, players curse all the time. Not at refs. Kobe did. He paid. But that was on court right? Yeah, it was. So no off court problems? Oh no, there is one. Remember back in 2003, when Kobe was accused of rape? So off court and legal problems. The girl could have just been looking for attention, but hey, it was bigger than what Laker fans made of it. On to the next one.
On court issues. Lebron James may have switched teams. He may have left his hometown to chase championships, but he has never pushed a player, or coach off the team he is on. Kobe, on the other hand, did. By the summer of 2004, Kobe and Shaq had been in a feud. So bad, Shaq left. Phil Jackson didn't want to coach Kobe and his attitude at that time, so he left. Yes he came back, but that's not the point. He's also been caught on video saying that the Lakers should have shipped Andrew Bynum away from the team. Lebron left his team. But he never brings trouble onto his team like Kobe did, and does. Kobe has a very big attitude. Good luck without Phil Jackson.
I understand when people get mad at Lebron for the way he left Cleveland, but not the reason. There was no point to stay. They weren't winning a championship there, so might as well leave. Kobe tried the same thing in 2007. He told manager Jerry Bus that he wanted to be traded from the franchise. He didn't and they brought Phil Jackson back. But again, that's not the point. The point is, he wanted out. The same as what Lebron did. Yet, Lebron KNEW there was no hope in Cleveland and that organization.
Better offensive? Kobe or Lebron. While Kobe scores at a non stop rate, hitting clutch shot after clutch shot, Lebron is doing it all. Whether it is scoring inside or outside, dishing assists, offensive rebounding, he does everything! Kobe is a better shooter. Kobe is more clutch. But Lebron is more athletic, faster, stronger, smarter. He is still young, he will develop what Kobe developed, that killer instinct. To make the final basket to win the game. It will come. Did you watch the Heat Celtics series? Or the Heat Bulls series? Just a preview of what Lebron could really do once he gets that instinct. Back to the offensive game. Lebron reads the court better than most point guards. He can make passes that only say, Steve Nash can make. Every NBA Finals Kobe has been to, his second and even third leading scorer on the team, were at least decent. Lebron's NBA Finals in Cleveland? Not even close. Lebron James led the Cavs the the finals with Larry Hughes and Eric Snow as the other leading scorers on the team. Think about it this way. Kobe, Shaq, and Horry vs. Lebron, Hughes, and Snow. Really Laker Fans? Lebron can't lead a team? Come on now. Hold on hold on. Kobe, Gasol, and Odom vs. Lebron, Hughes, and Snow. Better? Not really. Do you see what I'm getting at? Kobe has been benefited with not only having one of the best coaches in NBA history, but also arguably the best post player in NBA history for the three-peat and then one of the better post players for the two most recent titles. Yes, Lebron failed to win the championship. But Kobe wouldn't been able to do it with those guys either, let alone get that far. Anyways, Lebron has never averaged under six assists per game in any season of his career. Kobe, on the other hand, has never averaged above six assists in any season. Kobe might be able to win games, but when he's in a slump, he's not one to will his team into winning those games. Lebron is an offensive facilitator, and Kobe isn't. Kobe is a dominant scorer, and clutch shooter. Those two aspects, he's better than Lebron. But overall offense, Lebron wins that battle.
Now let's talk about individual success. James has gotten more individual success than Kobe in less time.
Kobe Bryant, first 8 years. Averaged over 25 ppg only three of the years. Never shot above 47%.
Lebron James, first 8 years. Averaged over 25 ppg in seven of the years. Shot 50% and above in two.
It took Kobe over a decade to receive a MVP. It took Lebron eight years to receive two. When you talk about the first eight years of each player. Kobe has the rings to show his teams success. But Lebron has the stats, and trophies to show HIS success.
For career stats:
Lebron James: 27.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 7 APG, and 0.8 BPG.
Kobe Bryant: 25.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.7 APG, and 0.5 BPG.See how Lebron is better in every category? And yes, Kobe only played seven games in his first two years, but that just shows that Lebron was better at the early stages right from high school, and still is.
I didn't even mention that Lebron is a way better finisher around the rim. Kobe shows off his hops every once in a while now a days. But a couple years ago, he was dunking a lot. The difference is the power. Ask any player in the league. Who would you want running full speed at you? Lebron or Kobe? Which to dunk on you? Which to post you up? All the answers would be Kobe. Lebron is much more physical than Kobe, which leads to his scoring in the paint. That leads to his defensive skills as well. He is a versatile defender in and outside the paint. He has a signature chase down block. Kobe rarely makes defensive plays.
As much as you can say that Kobe has the rings, all that matters. What your saying is Kobe has had a better team success than Lebron has had over their careers. What you don't mean, is Kobe is better than Lebron. After what I just covered, what I just showed you in this article, you know Lebron is a better player. Move the rings aside from Kobe, you have no argument. Lebron doesn't even have a ring, and there is an argument for why he is better. Most Laker fans will never say Lebron is better. Most Heat fans will never say Kobe is better. Everything in this article are facts and overlooked things. Lebron is still young, he's got time. Lebron is an all around better player than Kobe. He has more individual success, and the stats are better. He gets his teammates involved in games, and Kobe doesn't. Last checklist.
Shooting - Kobe
Passing - Lebron
Rebounding - Lebron
Athleticism - Lebron
Defense - Lebron
Clutch - Kobe
Lebron 4-2. Now can it be Lebron vs. Jordan?
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